Govt yet to form committee for talks with opposition on ToRs

ISLAMABAD: The government hasn’t constituted any committee for negotiations with a group of opposition about the terms of reference (TORs) for proposed probe commission regarding Panama Papers.

It’s mere kite-flying as no decision has been made in this regard so far. Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah has claimed that he has delivered opposition’s ToRs to the Prime Minister House but the top law expert of the government, Minister for Law and Justice Zahid Hamid has claimed that he hasn’t received the document so delivered by the opposition leader. He is one who choreographed government’s reaction about the opposition ToRs on Wednesday and was supposed to formalise the same as soon he receives the document.

Zahid Hamid in a brief chat with The News Thursday said that the government contention about the opposition’s draft is evident. “It would be the question of formal response. I done think it would take long for us to reply provided it reaches me,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister Office (PMO) has confirmed receipt of the opposition’s TORs with covering letter of opposition leader on Thursday but the same has yet to be submitted to the prime minister, the sources said. It is likely that it would be subsequently referred by the premier to the Law and Justice Ministry for analysis.

Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar is returning from his foreign visit today (Friday) and he will have meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif late in the evening. He will be assigned to have talks with the opposition as leader of the government committee for reconciling with opposition on the TORs, the sources added.